Drug and poison Terminology

Question 1

What is Drug half-life

Answer 1

The half-life of a drug is a pharmacokinetic parameter that is defined as the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in the plasma (blood) or the total amount in the body to be reduced by 50%. It is used as a reference point for how fast a drug may be metabolised and helps to determine how regularly a drug should be administered.

Question 2

Therapeutic index

Answer 2

The ratio between the dosage of a drug that causes a lethal effect and the dosage that causes a therapeutic effect.

Question 3

Adverse drug reaction

Answer 3

A noxious or unintended response has occurred at the normal therapeutic dose within a reasonable time of the drug having been administered. Adverse reactions vary from the very mild to the fatal. They can be broken down to toxic and allergic drug reactions.

Question 4

Toxic reaction

Answer 4

A reaction caused by a property of the drug. It can also be dose-related or occur due to administration via the incorrect route e.g. injectable Clavulox given IV (intravenously) instead of SC (subcutaneously). Adverse drug reactions can be one example of a toxic reaction.

Question 5

Allergic reaction

Answer 5

Hypersensitivity reaction occurring as a result of an immunologic response within the animal. The clinical signs seen in allergic reactions are generally not dose-related. An allergic reaction is unpredictable.

Question 6

Anaphylactic reaction

Answer 6

A serious, life-threatening allergic reaction in which the immune system has an exaggerated response to an allergen by releasing chemicals that cause severe allergy symptoms. Death may result. Adrenaline

Question 7

Drug metabolism

Answer 7

The process by which the body breaks down and converts medication into active chemical substances.

Question 8

Drug withholding period

Answer 8

A withholding period (WHP) is the minimum period that must pass between the last administration or application of a pesticide or veterinary medicine, including treated feed, and the slaughter, collection, harvesting or use of the animal or crop commodity for human consumption.

Question 9

Nephrotoxic

Answer 9

Toxicity in the kidneys. It is a poisonous effect of some substances on renal function, e.g. chemicals and medications.

Question 10

Hepatotoxic

Answer 10

Toxicity in the liver. Drug-induced liver injury may cause acute or chronic liver disease.

Question 11

Cytotoxic

Answer 11

Toxic to living cells by preventing their replication or growth. These are often used to treat cancer but can have undesirable effects on healthy tissue.

Question 12

Teratogenic

Answer 12

An agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or foetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect).

Question 13

Contraindicated

Answer 13

A specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the patient.

Question 14

Bolus

Answer 14

A single, relatively large quantity of a substance, usually intended, for therapeutic use, such as a bolus dose of a drug injected intravenously